The Forensic Institute has identified the bodies of the four hostages Hamas released to the Red Cross on Thursday, marking another step in the first phase of the cease-fire between the terrorist group and Israel.
The exchange, which took place in the Gaza Strip, was confirmed by an Israeli security official. Egyptian mediators assisted in the delivery of the caskets.
The remains have been identified as Itzhak “Itzik” Elgarat, 68; Tsachi Idan, 49; Shlomo Mantzur, 85; and Ohad Yahalomi. They are the last four to be released during the first phase of the ceasire, which is set to end Saturday.
ISRAEL’S UN AMBASSADOR SLAMS HAMAS’ ‘EVIL AND DEPRAVED’ DISPLAY OF HOSTAGES’ COFFINS
“Our hearts ache upon receiving the bitter news of the identification of Ohad Yahalomi, Tsachi Idan, Itzik Elgarat, and Shlomo Mantzur, whose bodies were returned overnight from captivity at the hands of Hamas terrorists,” said President Isaac Herzog. “In this painful moment, there is some solace in knowing that they will be laid to rest in dignity in Israel.”
At the same time, Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in a move that was previously delayed. Red Cross convoys assisted with the transport of the detainees.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office previously confirmed the exchange on Wednesday, noting that it was likely to take place without the humiliating “ceremonies” that Hamas has engaged in prior.
On Saturday, Netanyahu temporarily delayed the seventh hostage-prisoner exchange in protest of Hamas’s release ceremonies, which were used to generate propaganda. In one ceremony, hostages were forced to pose with Hamas fighters and kiss militants on the head.
“In light of Hamas’s repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes, it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists that was planned for yesterday until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies,” Netanyahu’s statement said.
Hamas had called the delay a “serious violation,” though the militant group’s treatment of prisoners was condemned by international groups, including the United Nations.
FUNERAL HELD FOR SHIRI BIBAS AND HER SONS AFTER THEIR REMAINS HANDED OVER BY HAMAS
“Under international law, any handover of the remains of [the] deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families,” the United Nations Geneva said on X last week, attributing the quote to High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
Israeli United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon told Fox News Digital that Hamas’ “ceremonies” were “evil and depraved.”
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“For 16 months, Israel has been fighting a deranged terrorist organization that places no value on human life, especially if it is Israeli or Jewish — all while international institutions like the U.N. refrained from condemning Hamas and formally demanding the immediate return of our hostages,” Danon said.
Hamas spokesman Abdel Latif al-Qanua told Arab media: “The first phase of the [ceasefire] deal has been completed. We have fulfilled all of our commitments in full despite the delays imposed by the occupation.”
Latif al-Qanua said the militant group was “ready to extent the first phase of the deal or merge it with the second phase, according to our red lines.”
Israel and Hamas have yet to negotiate the next phase, and dozens of hostages are still held in Gaza.
The Associated Press and Fox News’ Rachel Wolf, Bradford Betz and Yael Rotem-Kuriel contributed to this report.
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